Systems and methods for employing a customer replaceable unit (CRU) to alter an installation type for the CRU in an image forming device

Abstract

A system and method are provided for employing a customer replaceable unit (CRU) to modify its own installation type when installed in an image forming device, including an image forming device operated under a managed service contract. A database centric CRU inventory control architecture is provided for managing image forming device information through interactive communication with CRU monitoring modules (CRUMs) associated with CRUs installed in many and widely deployed image forming devices. The disclosed systems and methods make use of the CRUMs embedded in CRUs offered by a manufacturer or supplier along with a device management application offered by the manufacturer for on-site use by a customer to implement an inventory tracking and control system that reduces inventory overhead.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method to identify a replaceable component in a device, comprising:
 receiving, with a processor in the device, replaceable component identifying information from a supplier, the processor in the device running a device management application associated with the device, the received replaceable component identifying information comprising an identification number for a replaceable component shipped by the supplier and an associated serial number for an intended destination device for the replaceable component; 
 comparing, with the processor running the device management application in the device, the received replaceable component identifying information with information read directly from an electronic monitoring module associated with the replaceable component, the information being read directly from the electronic monitoring module when the replaceable component is installed in the device for use; 
 assigning, with the processor running the device management application in the device, additional identifying information to the replaceable component using the device management application; and 
 transmitting the additional identifying information for the replaceable component to the supplier. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , the replaceable component being identified only with an identification number for the replaceable component and an intended destination device serial number recorded in the electronic monitoring module associated with the replaceable component when the replaceable component is shipped from the supplier. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , the assigning the additional information to the replaceable component comprising providing required configuration information to configure the replaceable component for use in the device. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , the assigning the additional information to the replaceable component comprising providing billing information associated with the replaceable component. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , the replaceable component identifying information being recorded in a supplier database at a time of shipping of the replaceable component. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , the supplier database being updated with the additional information transmitted to the supplier. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , the comparing the received replaceable component identifying information with information read directly from the electronic monitoring module associated with the replaceable component further comprising determining whether the device in which the replaceable component is installed is the intended destination device based on a comparison of serial numbers for the device in which the replaceable component is installed and the intended destination device by the device management application. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising providing a user of the device with options for resolving a conflict that arises when it is determined that the device in which the replaceable component is installed is not the intended destination device. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , the assigning the additional information to the replaceable component comprising providing first billing information associated with the replaceable component when it is determined that the device in which the replaceable component is installed is the intended destination device and providing separate second billing information associated with the replaceable component when it is determined that the device in which the replaceable component is installed is not the intended destination device. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , the first billing information being associated with a contractual agreement between the supplier and a customer to whom the replaceable component was shipped and the second billing information being a market price for the replaceable component falling outside the contractual agreement. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising disabling the device in which the replaceable component is installed when the conflict is not resolved by the user. 
     
     
       12. A system for identifying a replaceable component in a device, comprising:
 an external communication interface for receiving replaceable component identifying information from a supplier, the received replaceable component identifying information comprising an identification number for a replaceable component shipped by the supplier and an associated serial number for an intended destination device for the replaceable component; and 
 a processor that is programmed to run a device management application associated with at least one device in which the replaceable component is installed, the device management application
 comparing the received replaceable component identifying information with information read directly from an electronic monitoring module associated with the replaceable component, the information being read directly from the electronic monitoring module when the replaceable component is installed in the at least one device; and 
 assigning additional identifying information to the replaceable component; and 
 
 the external communication interface transmitting the additional identifying information for the replaceable component assigned by the device management application to the supplier. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , the replaceable component being identified only with an identification number for the replaceable component and an intended destination device serial number recorded in the electronic monitoring module associated with the replaceable component when the replaceable component is shipped from the supplier. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 12 , the assigning the additional information to the replaceable component comprising providing required configuration information to configure the replaceable component for use in the device. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 12 , the assigning the additional information to the replaceable component comprising providing billing information associated with the replaceable component. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 12 , the replaceable component identifying information being recorded in a supplier database at a time of shipping of the replaceable component and the supplier database being updated with the additional information transmitted to the supplier. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 12 , the comparing the received replaceable component identifying information with information read directly from the electronic monitoring module associated with the replaceable component further comprising determining whether the device in which the replaceable component is installed is the intended destination device based on a comparison of serial numbers for the device in which the replaceable component is installed and the intended destination device. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , further comprising an operating interface on which is displayed one or more options for user inputs to be received from a user of the device to resolve a conflict that arises when it is determined that the device in which the replaceable component is installed is not the intended destination device. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , the assigning the additional information to the replaceable component comprising providing first billing information associated with the replaceable component when it is determined that the device in which the replaceable component is installed is the intended destination device and providing separate second billing information associated with the replaceable component when it is determined that the device in which the replaceable component is installed is not the intended destination device. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , the first billing information being associated with a contractual agreement between the supplier and the user and the second billing information being a market price for the replaceable component falling outside the contractual agreement. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 18 , the processor being further programmed to disable the device in which the replaceable component is installed when the conflict is not resolved by the user. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 12 , the device being an image forming device. 
     
     
       23. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing executable instructions recorded that, when executed by a processor in a device, cause the processor to execute steps of a method to identify a replaceable component in the device, the method comprising:
 executing a device management application to compare replaceable component identifying information with information read directly from an electronic monitoring module associated with the replaceable component, the information being read directly from the electronic monitoring module when the replaceable component is installed in the device, the replaceable component identifying information being received from a supplier and comprising an identification number for a replaceable component shipped by the supplier and an associated serial number for an intended destination device for the replaceable component; 
 assigning additional identifying information to the replaceable component using the device management application; and 
 transmitting the additional identifying information for the replaceable component to the supplier.